BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- The Western Washington University Department of Athletics announced a leadership adjustment impacted by the University's recent budget decisions.

With this announcement, current Director of Athletics Jim Sterk will move to a half-time role, sharing co-AD duties with Steve Brummel, a veteran of over 30 years in the department. In this arrangement, Brummel will work as the interim AD leading WWU Athletics in all administrative roles on campus, with the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and the NCAA. Sterk, who joined the department in July 2023, will focus his efforts and energy gaining financial support for athletics with the goal of increasing department revenue to allow WWU to maintain its current sports programming and student-athlete opportunities.

Over the last six months Athletics has undergone a strategic reshaping of the leadership team. Athletic Communications, Marketing and Community Engagement has consolidated under the University Marketing and Communications and University Advancement Divisions, with two positions funded by The Foundation for WWU & Alumni. This alignment strengthens our ability to tell the story of WWU Athletics and fosters more collaboration with campus and community partners. The department unfortunately lost a full-time employee in digital communications due to the cutbacks.

The university also announced the athletics portfolio of 15 varsity sports will be evaluated to ensure long-term sustainability and continued success at the conference, regional and national level. As we move forward, our focus remains on excellence, access and the student-athlete experience.

The following is a letter sent from Jim Sterk in his bi-monthly AD Update informing donors and alums of this transition:

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Dear Viking Supporters,
 
A very successful "Year of the Viking" culminated last week in Carver Gym with six WWU graduation ceremonies.  We will certainly miss this group of over 40 senior student-athletes who have made a lasting impact as Vikings.  During their time as Vikings, they helped accomplish a record-number academic awards, earned countless All-America honors, helped the department win four consecutive GNAC All-Sports trophies and represented Western across the nation at NCAA Championship events.
 
Earlier today, President Randhawa sent out a message to campus informing the university community of changes taking place due to the need to cut approximately $23M from the base operating budget.  As the President, President Cabinet and university leadership strategized over the past year and a half to reduce the structural deficit, WWU Athletics has not been exempt from those discussions, actions and impact.
 
This is a critical time for WWU as well as the Athletics program. Last year, the Board of Trustees mandated that within five years, the athletics budget needed to be balanced. In year one we have reduced our operational deficit by over $200,000.  Progress has been made through a reduction of goods and services as well as the consolidating our external team under University Advancement with the Foundation funding two of those three positions. We unfortunately lost one member of our staff in Athletic Communications.

This spring the Washington State Legislature reduced support for higher education and WWU, expanding the university's deficit as well as forcing another round of personnel reductions. In looking for ways to make additional reductions, it became apparent to me, I could propose a unique solution and save an additional position from being cut in athletics. In short, I could move to half time and use the savings as our additional position we were mandated to eliminate. From a department standpoint, moving into this role will allow me to prioritize fundraising efforts for Athletics, while personally creating a balance allowing me to spend more time with my wife, Debi, my daughters and their families.
 
The other reason I feel good about this move, is that a very capable administrator and alum, Steve Brummel will move into the chair assuming the duties as "Interim AD". A Bellingham native and former WWU student-athlete, Steve has more than 30 years of experience in the department and is a valued campus leader that will represent WWU within university, GNAC and NCAA affairs. In my two years as AD, Steve has already taken on many AD duties and shown great leadership in that role.
 
Without many of the AD administrative responsibilities, I will focus my time and energy on the challenge of growing financial support externally as well as on campus.  WWU Athletics will need to develop a "Stabilization Fund" to support the overall athletics program.
 
I will also be supporting our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) in moving forward with a successful student athletics fee referendum for a vote next spring. This past spring some of our student-athlete leaders and staff had many meetings and discussions with the Associated Student Body Executive Board and Senate.  In the end they did not move our Athletics Fee Referendum forward for a student body vote however it "set the table" for a possible successful run at passing it this next spring.
 
Our overall goal is to increase department revenue to allow WWU Athletics to maintain our current sport programming and student-athlete opportunities. The pivot in leadership structure will help create a sustainable model for continued success of WWU Athletics.
 
I look forward to working with and for you all as we continue to provide our amazing student-athletes with the opportunity to excel in the sports they love while representing the Western Washington University Vikings.
 
Thank you for your continued support of Viking Athletics.
 
Go Viks!
 
Jim Sterk
WWU Director of Athletics